Quick Bites: FLW Series Eastern Lake Champlain, Day 1

Wal-Mart FLW Series BP Eastern Division

Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Opening round, Wednesday

Light and variable … Fujifilm pro Wesley Strader was one of several pros who ran 75 miles south to Ticonderoga, N.Y. More specifically, Strader ran past Ticonderoga, traveling over 80 miles in the process. Although the forecast this morning called for light and variable winds, Strader didn’t see it that way. “It was just awful down there,” he said. “My back is killing me.” The Spring City, Tenn., pro and his co-angler partner Richard Rhodes broke down in the afternoon and had to be brought in by BP pro Tracy Adams. Up until today, things were going well for Strader, who is fourth in the Eastern Division points race. The forecast looked like it would cooperate, plus his prefishing was productive. In fact, he found an area in practice where he received approximately 60 bites, targeting mainly largemouths. That enthusiasm quickly went away as he rode back to the marina in Adams’ boat with three other people and only two bass. “Light and variable?” Strader asked rhetorically. “More like hard and horrible.”

Pruitt continues his tear … Although he’s third in the points race in the BP Eastern Division of the FLW Series, pro Bud Pruitt would absolutely be blowing the competition away if not for a mishap at Lake Okeechobee. On day two, Pruitt had over 25 pounds in his boat at 1 p.m., so he decided to play it safe and head back early. On his way back to the marina, Pruitt inadvertently beached his boat so far on shore he and his partner were unable to get it back in the water. He and his partner both missed their check-in time, and their weights had to be disqualified for the day. Pruitt picked himself up on day three and caught a five-bass limit that weighed 10 pounds, 13 ounces. That limit enabled the Spring, Texas, pro to head home with an $11,000 check for 30th place. At the next Eastern Division event on Lake Dardanelle, Pruitt caught the fire out of the fish, placing sixth and earning $18,000. The highlight of that tournament was a 19-pound, 6-ounce limit caught on day three. Now on Lake Champlain, Pruitt is looking to overtake the AOY lead. On day one, he caught 17-11, including the Snickers Big Bass, which weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces. Although he trails current Eastern Division points leader Andy Morgan by 15 points, that may change soon. Morgan is 139th after catching just 10-6 Wednesday. Just think how big Pruitt’s lead would be if he could have those 30 points back from Okeechobee.

September slugfest … In somewhat of a surprise, Lake Champlain poured out five-bass limit after five-bass limit despite what was supposedly a tough practice. The fish were believed to be in transitioning from their summer haunts to more of a fall pattern. The largemouths in Ticonderoga weren’t biting and the smallmouths were slowly moving from the deep water back to the bank. So why did they bite so well on day one? According to $2 million angler David Dudley those light and variable winds really helped out. “When Lake Champlain slicks off, anybody can catch them. If you don’t get at least 18 pounds, you’ve put yourself behind the 8-ball. When the wind picks up over the next few days, the cream will rise to the top.” It’s doubtful that Strader would agree with Dudley’s assessment, but it’s at least worth noting how differently a 100-mile long fishery can behave on separate portions of the lake.

Weigh-in or Pro Night? … It’s hard to fathom, but the day-one weigh-in actually interfered with Chevy Pro Night, held at Bill McBride Chevrolet in Plattsburgh. The day-one weigh-in concluded at 6:20 p.m. Eastern time, and the festivities at Chevy Pro Night commenced at 6 p.m. Luckily, all the Team Chevy anglers were in the early flights, meaning New York and Vermont fishing fans got the chance to swap tales with some of the best bass anglers in the world.

Quick numbers

1485: Number of fish caught by the 380-angler field Wednesday.

5: Weight, in pounds, of the Snickers Big Bass in the Co-angler Division.

157: Number of limits registered by the field of 190 pros.

201: Number of minutes the day-one weigh-in lasted.

140: Number of pros who cracked the 10-pound mark on day one.

8-2: Weight, in pounds and ounces, of Chevy Open champion Steve Clapper’s day-one stringer.

3735-7: Weight, in pounds and ounces, of the day-one total tournament catch – second heaviest in the history of the FLW Series and first in the brief history of the BP Eastern Division.

Sound bites

“I found out today that we’re expecting our second daughter.” – BP pro David Walker, who, in nine months will be living in a house with three women.

“After looking at those smallmouths on Lake Erie, these things look like midgets.” – Bounty pro Jacob Powroznik.

“I really like this format. I like the limited practice. It suits my fishing very well.” – Matt Herren, on his recent success in FLW Series competition.

“Come on you ornery thing.” – FLW Series Tournament Director Chris Jones, trying to weigh-in a feisty Lake Champlain smallmouth that refused to sit still.

“I caught me some footballs today.” Co-angler leader Wally Coward, who up until today had never caught a smallmouth bass.

“I didn’t get to fish very much. He kept yelling net, net, net, net.” – Co-angler Bud Strader, blaming his poor day-one stringer on BP pro J.T. Kenney.

Thursday’s takeoff is scheduled to take place at 6:30 a.m. Eastern time from the Dock Street Landing, located at 2 Dock Street in Plattsburgh.